St. Petersburg Scientists Speak at Meetings in Reston, VA, and Washington, DC

Bob Halley of the USGS' Center for Coastal and Regional Marine Studies (CCRMS) in St. Petersburg, FL, was in Reston, VA, and Washington, DC, during the week of June 3 to attend a Coral Reef Workshop hosted by the House Oceans Caucus. Formed in 1998 to be a voice in Congress on diverse ocean issues, the House Oceans Caucus now has participation from more than 50 lawmakers from both major political parties.

Bob gave a preview of his talk "Coral Reefs and Global Change: Long-Term Responses in Florida and the Caribbean" to a standing-room-only crowd in St. Petersburg on May 30. While in Washington, Bob also met with Jean Michel Cousteau. You can read more about the workshop and see quotes from Bob in the Voice of America News story "US Congress Considers Bill to Preserve Coral Reefs" (June 13, 2002).

Dale Griffin (CCRMS) presented his recent work on African dust at "Healthy Ecosystems and Healthy People: Linkages Between Biodiversity, Ecosystem Health, and Human Health," held in Washington, DC, June 6-11. You can learn more at the conference Web site.